NOTE TO EDITORS:

The Departments of Finance and Natural Resources will offer a technical briefing to media to provide an overview of the province�s position regarding the Atlantic Accord. Terry Paddon, Deputy Minister of the Department of Finance, and Chris Kieley, Assistant Deputy Minister, Energy, with the Department of Natural Resources, will give a technical presentation on Thursday, March 4. Briefing materials will be distributed at 9:00 a.m. and the presentation will begin at 9:15 a.m. in the Media Centre, Ground Floor, East Block, Confederation Building.

Premier Danny Williams will be available to the media immediately after the technical briefing at approximately 10:00 a.m. in the Media Centre, Ground Floor, East Block, Confederation Building.

Please note that the briefing will be a closed session for members of the media only.

Media contacts:
          Elizabeth Matthews, Office of the Premier, (709) 729-3960
          Diane Keough, Department of Finance, (709) 729-6830
          Carmel Turpin, Department of Natural Resources, (709) 729-5282

2004 03 03                                        3:50 p.m.